The 19 Most Beautiful Resorts in Thailand
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1. Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
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2. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
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3. Rosewood Phuket
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4. Layana Resort and Spa
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5. Andara Resort and Villas
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6. Rayavadee Resort
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7. Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach
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8. The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Phuket
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9. Six Senses Yao Noi
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10. Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai
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11. Banyan Tree Samui
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12. InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort
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13. Pimalai Resort and Spa
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14. Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi
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15. Banyan Tree Phuket
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16. Soneva Kiri
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17. W Koh Samui
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18. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui Thailand
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19. The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui
Delicious street food, historic attractions, stunning beaches, and a rich culture -- Thailand has it all. And yes, that extends to its properties, too. From boutique stays on the beach to luxe resorts tucked away in the jungle, the country has a plethora of beautiful hotels to choose from. To help get you started with planning (or induce some serious wanderlust), we traveled around the country to find the best of the best. Below, take a look at the most beautiful resorts in Thailand -- and you'll soon understand why it's called the "Land of Smiles."
With a beautiful location on Mai Khao Beach, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas is a luxury property featuring intricately carved wood, open-air buildings, reflection pools, and pagoda-style structures. Amenities include a beachfront pool, luxe spa, cooking school, fitness center, and free non-motorized water sports, plus the 91 gorgeous units all have lovely private pools. The expansive grounds also house excellent dining options, including Thai, Indian, and international cuisines, as well as a tree house-style eatery and wine room. One downside? The beach here is small and often too rough for swimming.
The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa might be a chain, but there's nothing generic about the property. It's beautifully landscaped, serves up views of the Andaman Sea, and shelters an attractive reflection pool. A luxe spa, 12 restaurants and bars, three swimming pools, and contemporary rooms with balconies keep guests happy, as does the friendly service. Note that the beach is beautiful, but not suitable for swimming. Overall, it's one of the most luxurious resorts in Phuket -- with a price tag to match.
Opened in 2017, this 71-room resort is Rosewood's first foray in Southeast Asia. It's situated along an idyllic beachfront on Emerald Bay, meaning views are stellar, especially from the beachfront pool. If you prefer to take it all in from the comfort of your own room, all come with a private pool. Immersed in the surrounding natural landscape, the property also boasts four restaurants set against the water, creating even more photo ops.
A serene slice of paradise, the 51-room Layana Resort and Spa blends contemporary Thai-style architecture, tropical landscaped gardens, and direct access to a pristine white-sand beach. In terms of accommodations, the luxurious adults-only escape consists of garden pavilions and beach suites (stand-alone bungalows) that feature private terraces and beach access. A saltwater infinity pool, on-site restaurant serving international local Thai cuisine, upscale spa, and fitness center round out the offerings.
Andara Resort and Villas comes with a high price tag, but it certainly delivers with luxe extras like private chefs and access to a customized yacht. Take your pick between a luxury villa or suite -- most have gorgeous private pools and breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. The rooms, which are spread out for privacy, get stocked with guests' favorite foods, and a chef comes to prepare custom meals. More to love: a relaxing spa, infinity pool, and restaurant, but the beach is about a 10-minute walk or quick buggy ride from the hotel.
Only reachable by boat, the Rayavadee Resort is a luxurious beachside property set across 26 tropical acres. Each of the resort's 102 rooms include separate bedrooms and living rooms, large flat-screen TVs, and luxe bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. Resembling a quaint southern Thai village, the setting is stunning, with a massive outdoor pool wedged between Krabi's signature cliffs. And although it's remote, the property's beaches -- Railay, Nammao, and Phranang -- are public (and can even become crowded during the peak season). To top it off, the four restaurants, bars, upscale spa, tennis courts, and water sports are sure to keep guests occupied between dips in the sea.
In addition to a convenient and gorgeous location on Naithon Beach (10 minutes from the airport), the Pullman Phuket features a beautiful beach-facing infinity pool, stylish rooms with furnished balconies, a peaceful spa, a fun kids' club, and six on-site bars and restaurants. The property, which attracts both families and couples, has been carefully designed to incorporate the natural beauty of Thailand. The beach is also attractive, but the water can get a little rough at certain times of the year.
At The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Phuket, there's plenty of wow factor to go around. The small tropical island resort, accessible by a five-minute speedboat ride from Phuket, consists of 67 villas with private courtyards that feature plunge pools and giant outdoor soaking tubs. The on-site spa -- one of the best in Thailand -- comes with an ice room and warm Watsu pool, and the private beach, two-tiered swimming pool, and three restaurants provide more to do. Overall, this resort is a solid pick for those wanting a quiet beach vacation -- there isn't much else on the island -- but expect to pay top dollar (by Thailand standards).
Ultra-luxe, yet unpretentious, Six Senses Yao Noi has a stunning beachfront location with views of the sea and karsts of Phang Nga Bay. In addition to privacy and seclusion, guests appreciate the personalized service (staff remembers guest preferences), well-regarded spa, open-air yoga pavilion, and four elegant restaurants with outdoor seating. Plus, the 56 spacious villas offer private infinity pools and impressive views of the bay, along with thoughtful design details. Of course, these kind of amenities come at a price.
Romantic, luxurious, and pricey, the 123-room Dhara Dhevi is unlike the other resorts on this list. Built to resemble an ancient Lanna kingdom or Burmese temple complex, the property houses a horse and carriage at the gate, a huge swimming pool under castle-like surroundings, and impressive faux temple ruins. Villas with private plunge pools are made from reconstructed rice barns and overlook working rice paddies, and elegant colonial-style rooms are also available. Guests even get access to one of Thailand's best spas (located inside a temple-like building) as well as a library of over 5,000 books and DVDs.
Tucked among palm trees and lush vegetation, the 88-room Banyan Tree Samui is an intimate luxury property that lures travelers looking for a taste of the high life. The rooms -- all stand-alone villas -- come with private pools, separate living areas, and beautiful bathrooms. The amenities are also spectacular: four restaurants, a gym and yoga studio, a renowned spa, an infinity pool, a private beach, and free water sports all make for a memorable vacation.
If you've got a large budget, the InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort is worth the splurge. The 79-room, ultra-posh property overlooks one of the most beautiful ocean views in Koh Samui, plus there are seven swimming pools (including an infinity option with ocean views), a large beach area, and several restaurants and bars to enjoy. The villas, suites, and ocean-view rooms all feature terraces, spacious bathtubs, and plenty of elegant details. It's almost a world unto itself.
Nestled near the southern end of Ko Lanta, along beautiful Kantiang Beach, Pimalai Resort and Spa is the grandest property on the island. It's sprawled across both sides of the road, on 100 acres of tropical vegetation. Guests can stay on one of two sides: the beach or the hill (most rooms are clustered around the former, though there are some villas up on the hill). All units have furnished patios and balconies, plus plenty of privacy. Amenities are not lacking either -- guests can enjoy two swimming pools (including one infinity-edge option overlooking the bay), a fitness center, spa, tennis court, four restaurants and cafes, and several bars.
Appealing to both families and couples, the Centara Grand Beach Resort sits on a private bay in the Andaman Sea, surrounded by limestone karst mountains. Good looks aside, the resort also delivers on amenities, with a long white-sand beach, four restaurants, a spa, fitness center, kids' club, several swimming pools, and a library. The huge rooms and villas impress, too, with their large balconies and open-plan bathrooms. The away-from-it-all vibe certainly suits some travelers, but keep in mind that getting to town involves taking a boat or a steep path over the mountain.
With 175 villas on 89 acres, Banyan Tree Phuket is one of the larger luxury resorts in Phuket (it can be tough to navigate). Manmade lagoons and the beach -- a five-minute walk away -- provide beautiful photo ops, and multiple outdoor pools offer relaxing oases. Villas are spacious and include luxurious details such as private outdoor spaces with hot tubs or pools, designer furniture, and pillow menus. And the amenities don't stop there -- an 18-hole golf course, yoga and cooking classes, boat rides on the lagoon, a kids' club, several restaurants, and bikes for borrow are all available.
As its motto "no news, no shoes" states, this eco-chic luxury resort serves up relaxation in a dreamy setting. It requires a private plane transfer from Bangkok and a speedboat ride to reach, but Soneva Kiri Thailand is worth the extra effort. There are private butlers, personal electric buggies, indulgent dining options (including treetop dining pods that waiters reach via zip line), and a gorgeous private beach that can be accessed by a short boat ride. The icing on the cake: Each of the 36 villas has a private infinity pool.
Located on the northern coast of Koh Samui, on its own little stretch of sand, W Koh Samui is a hip and fun chain hotel that offers great value. For starters, each of the 74 villas has its own private plunge pool, and many have full kitchens with stoves and ovens. Other facilities include a top-notch spa, a 24-hour gym, an infinity pool with lounge chairs, free hot breakfast with grab-and-go options (included in the room rate), several bars with cocktails and snacks, and multiple restaurants serving everything from pizza to Japanese fare.
Set right on the ocean, with gorgeous panoramic views of the water and rainforest, the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui Thailand is arguably the fanciest property on the island. Exhibit A: All rooms are private villas, and each one has its own private pool. Some units come with perks like round-trip airport transfers and personal live-in attendants. Beyond the rooms, multiple restaurants, an infinity pool overlooking a white-sand beach, a 24-hour gym, and yoga classes await.
Sprawled across a former coconut plantation, with an idyllic white-sand beach as the backdrop, The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui has so much to offer. The guest rooms are spacious, with contemporary decor and gorgeous bathrooms featuring freestanding tubs. Those willing to splurge may want to opt for one of the Ultimate Pool Villas, which boast private plunge pools and stunning panoramic ocean views. With several restaurants and bars, a beachfront pool, a spa, a Muay Thai boxing gym, and so much more, most guests won’t be able to partake in all the available amenities in one trip.
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